Method for surgically cleansing wounds and other surfaces.



C. E. KELLS.

METHOD FOR SURGIGALLY GLBANSING WOUNDS AND OTHER SURPAGBS. APPLICATION FILED 00T.14. 1913.

1,1 14,268. Patented 001.20, 1914 f f Iliff/1111111111111.

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yTHE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHJL. WASHINGTDN. D4 CV nniinn srarns ra'ijnnfr ormoni;

CHARLES EDI/[UND KELLS, 0F NEW ORLEANILOUISINA.

METHOD FOR SURGICALLY CLEANSING WOUNDS AND OTERSURFAVS. v y

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES EDMUND Krimis, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and lState of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods for Surgically Cleansing Tounds and other Surfaces, ofswhich the following is a specification. f

My invention relates to c an improved method for surgically cleansing wounds and other surfaces, its object being to provide a procedure having the benefits and advantages hereinafter appearing.

The method ,can profitably be practisedv in connection with rdevices of different char actors, two of such devices being shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of one device for the practice of this invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the device of Fig. l, Fig. 3'is a longitudinal section through another form of the apparatus, and Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4L of Fig. 3.

In the use of the device of Figs. l and 2, for the practice of my method, the Acleansing fluid, usually an antiseptic solution, enters through a tube 5, the tip of which is turned in at 6 and enters a tube 7, the rear end of the tube 7 being connected by a rubber tube to a suction apparatus. The tube 7 is closed at its operative end by means of a gauze 8. The fluid issuing from the tip 6 of the tube 5 flows out upon the surface to be operated upon and does its work over a confined area, and is immediately sucked back into the tube 7 and carried away. The How of the fluid can be readily controlled by pressure i of the hand on the rubber tube shown, al-

though, of course, other forms of regulating appliances can be adopted.

In the device shown Figs. 3 and el, the tube 5 with its tip G is substantially of the saine form. The suction tube 7, however, terminates in an enlarged chamber-9, in which is mounted a swab l0. As the fluid, flows down it wets this swab, which can be used in mopping the surface to be cleansed, and the fluid is constantly drawn up through the swab, so that none flows away.

The method can be practised with many other forms of apparatus, these twobeing selected, as samples, to illustrate the principle.

It will be noticedv that in their operation Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 14, 1913.

Serial No. 795,059.

thefcleansing fluid is applied to a very small and restricted area and that although there is ample quantity ofthe fluid to do the cleansing work, itis immediately pickedupo'A by suction and drawn away. Thus, while the surface is thoroughlyl cleansed at thev spot to which the device is applied, the cleansing fluid has no opportunity to flow frointhe spot under the immediate treatf ment to some other part of the surface or wound, thereby .physically carrying 4with Patented Oct. 20,1914.

it dirtand so possibly spreading infection. c

This method of operation is peculiarly( advantageous as compared'with prior'methods becausefit renders it possible to use ample opiantity of fluid for the most thorough cleansing without any possibilityy of spreading infection the flow of the fluid froml one part of the wound, or surface, to an-` other. Heretofore, surgicaly cleansing has either been performed rby swabs, Sponges, or the like, in which case, the fluid was necessarily of but limited quantity, or else if the cleansingwas `done with fluid in a stream', or in such a copious amount as to keep la swab or sponge dripping wet, it ran from placel to place, 'carrying with it bodily the dis-` lodged dirt from one placeto another with the greatest danger of spreading infection.

With thehpresent method, on the contrary,

the? wound,ior surface, is washed part by part, each part thoroughly, and with ample iiuid, but the fluid is completely confined to the spot under operation and cannot flowk away. i

As hereinbefore stated, the method is entirely independent of any particular `apl paratus employed, and the particular manner in whichk it is carried out, and Lftherefore, do not intend to limit myself tothe particular procedure set forth, except as pointed out in the following claim, in which it is my intention `to claim all the novelty! inherent in the process as broadly as is permitted by the stateof the art. f

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent :1

Theherein described improvement in the art ofy -surgically washingwounds, which consists in discharging a cleansing' fluid inr` limited volume and in close proximity to the `wound to be cleansed to causesuch cleansing fluidto flow in a thin film over relatively larger areas of such wound, and immediatelyv withdrawing said cleansingf'luid with thesuspended matter Carried thereby by suc9 tion exerted adjacent its point of application, In testimony whereof I have hereluito Set whereby tbe eleanslng fhud covers successive my hand this 29 day of September, 1913. areas of the Wound, and the spread of dis- GHARLES EDMUND KELLS. lodged matter from each area beyond the In presence of Ytwo subscribing Witnesses: i boundaries thereof as the same is Washed s LEON C. WYEISS,

prevented.

T. H. CumisTY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

